Saturday, August 4, 2007

Santa Ana NWR, 8/3/07

Spent yesterday morning at Santa Ana NWR. Saw a Clay-colored Robin behind the headquarters and then heard a singing vireo that sounded like a fast Red-eyed. Turned out to be a scruffy Yellow-green Vireo. He was hanging out between the bridge and the trail head.

It was a good morning for Empidonax with six Least, five Yellow-bellies and at at least one Alder. Saw my FOS Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Mosquitos which were really bad last weekend were almost nonexistent on the Pintail Trail.

My other sites.

My mega bird!

On Feb. 9, 2008 Honey and I were fortunate to find the first North American record of White-crested Elaenia at the Sheepshead Valley Land Fund lot on South Padre Island, Texas. It apparently was a member of the highly migratory chilensis subspecies from southern South America. Needless to say, it's the highlight of my 38 years of birding. Here he is on the cover of the Winter 2008 issure of North American Birds. Click on the cover and read the story.

White-crested Elaenia

First North American and ABA record.

Listers, Come out of the closet!

I have a problem. I am a lister. There. I said it. I'm not ashamed of it. There's lots of birders out there who look down their noses at listers. But I bet they have lists too. They list in the privacy of their homes. Maybe behind the locked door of the bathroom. Come on listers. Come out of the closet (or the bathroom)! Oh I know what they say about listing. You go blind or hair grows on the palms of your hands. But it's not true. In fact listing is good for you. So make your lists and don't feel guilty about it.